On Tuesday, April
22nd, San Antonio College hosted a special Earth Day ceremony to
officially open SAC’s newest building, the William R. Sinkin Eco Centro. The
festivities included a green ribbon cutting, the unveiling of a custom
wall-sized mural, an Eco Fair that featured 30+ eco-friendly exhibitors from
around the city and self-guided tours of the new space.

The
event gave community members a peak at some of the activities/features the
building will provide, and honored Bill Sinkin’s impact on San Antonio’s
sustainability efforts.

“Naming
the building after Mr. Sinkin made perfect sense. Not only was he devoted to
promoting sustainable living, but he was a SAC alumnus and a wonderful
supporter of the college,” said SAC President, Dr. Robert E. Zeigler. “Sinkin
Eco Centro will not just be another classroom building; it will become the
‘eco’ hub for the community,” he continued.

In
addition to the custom mural made of sustainable materials, the building’s sleek
design incorporates solar panels, rain harvesting, and reclaimed materials.
Phase II of the project will add two electric vehicle charging stations, a
B-cycle post, and a demonstration garden for student and community use.

The
mural, located on the building’s exterior wall facing Main Ave., was not in the
original construction plans. A sight to be seen, it spans the wall’s surface
which measures 63 feet long and 17 feet tall, at the highest end.

Local
Tobin Hill resident and artist, Luis Lopez, was commissioned to conceptualize
and create the artwork.

“The
mural artfully depicts the history of the Tobin Hill neighborhood, starting
from the indigenous San Pedro Springs going through current day,” Lopez said.
“Like the building on which it resides, the mural is about reclaiming a
healthier future for all mankind.”

In
September 2010, SAC received a $600,000 grant through HUD’s Hispanic-Serving
Institutions Assisting Communities (HISIAC) Program. The grant made the
building’s construction possible.

The
long-awaited William R. Sinkin Eco Centro building is finally open for the
community to enjoy.

The American Heart Association presented San Antonio College with the Fit-Friendly Worksite award recognizing the colleges’ efforts at making the health and wellness of their employees a priority.
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